West Michigan Break In Linked to South American Theft Group, 10 Arrested

Investigation connects suspects to 19 burglaries nationwide with losses topping $1.6 million

CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Ten people have been arrested in connection with what authorities describe as a multi state burglary ring tied to a group commonly referred to by law enforcement as a “South American Theft Group,” the Kent County Sheriff’s Office announced.

The investigation began after a Cascade Township home was burglarized in December 2024 while the homeowners were at work. Authorities said a significant amount of cash, jewelry, personal documents and other valuables were stolen.

Detectives later determined the break in was part of a broader, coordinated effort involving suspects operating across multiple states. Investigators said members of the group conducted extensive pre planning before committing burglaries, including researching business owners online, identifying home addresses, monitoring daily routines and, in some cases, placing GPS tracking devices on vehicles to track victims’ movements.

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Search warrants, cellphone data analysis, surveillance and coordination with federal partners led investigators to identify several co conspirators operating outside Michigan. Authorities said the group was connected to at least 19 additional confirmed burglaries nationwide, with reported losses exceeding 1.6 million dollars.

Many of the victims targeted were Asian and Middle Eastern immigrant business owners, according to the sheriff’s office.

Several suspects were taken into custody in Michigan, Wisconsin, New Jersey and California. Others were arrested at short term rental properties that investigators said were used during the group’s operations.

Law enforcement agencies nationwide use the term South American Theft Groups, or SATGs, to describe organized burglary rings believed to consist largely of foreign nationals, often from countries such as Chile, Colombia and Peru. Federal and local authorities have said similar groups sometimes enter the United States either unlawfully or through visa waiver programs and travel across state lines committing coordinated residential burglaries. Officials say the groups frequently target high end homes and communities believed to keep cash, jewelry and luxury goods on site before quickly leaving the area.

The Kent County Sheriff’s Office release did not specify the immigration status of the defendants in this case.

Multiple defendants have pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to interstate transportation of stolen property. In December 2025, two individuals were sentenced to federal prison terms and ordered to pay restitution. Additional defendants remain in federal custody or have been sentenced as the case continues through the federal court process.

“This investigation demonstrates the growing sophistication of organized burglary groups operating across state lines and highlights the importance of coordinated law enforcement partnerships at the local, state and federal levels,” Undersheriff Bryan Muir said in a statement. “I am proud of our team for their hard work and relentlessness in the pursuit of justice for the victims.”

The Kent County Sheriff’s Office said the case is one of the largest multi state burglary investigations connected to Kent County in recent years.

Authorities are asking anyone with information about criminal activity in Kent County to contact the sheriff’s office.